Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what priority is being given to cases of suicide by sodium nitrate poisoning within the Government’s ongoing implementation of the suicide prevention strategy.

Every suicide is a tragedy that has a devastating and enduring impact on families, friends and communities. The suicide prevention strategy for England sets out priority areas and key actions to address the risk factors contributing to suicide. Tackling methods of suicides is one of these priority areas.

The Government continues to take steps to reduce access to, and awareness of, this substance. The Department of Health and Social Care leads a Concerning Methods Working Group which develops and delivers rapid targeted actions to collectively reduce public access to emerging methods of suicide, including this substance. The group involves representatives from the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, police, academics and the National Health Service, as well as Government departments including Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Home Office. This substance has been a particular focus of the actions implemented since the group was established and continues to be a priority of the Government’s approach to preventing suicides.

The group has worked with retailers and manufacturers to prevent this substance being sold for the purpose of suicide and the Home Office works with retailers to raise awareness and to remind them of their obligation to report suspicious activity relating to this action.

We continue to work operationally with a range of organisations, and we are actively considering further opportunities alongside the NHS, Border Force, police, charities and a range of Government departments.